In the scorching midsummer heat, the annual Hong Kong Book Fair opens on July 19 and will run for seven days. Due to the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Diocese of Hong Kong has not participated for the past three years. Instead, the Catholic Centre for Education and Formation organised virtual book fairs and book promotion events to interact with readers and promote a culture of reading to nourish minds.
Now with the easing of the pandemic, the diocese again joins the book fair under the theme “Joy of Reading, Encounter with the Lord,” hoping to once again ignite the reading atmosphere.
In this era of rapid development in information technology where everything emphasises speed and immediacy, online information is not purely textual but also audio and visual. They are more appealing than text with the simplicity of a single click.
Faced with easy access to electronic information to the point of being almost overwhelming, how can we encourage readers to actively pick up books and develop good reading habits?
The Hong Kong Book Fair is an excellent opportunity. Catholic institutions participating in book fairs do not only showcase religious and spiritual books, but also a wide range of other books on psychological counselling, personal growth, family, marriage, parent-child relationships, and more. With a variety of options available, attendees can read attentively, leisurely browse through the books, and select something suitable.
By joingin in the fair, the diocese aims not only to expand book sales but, more importantly, to reach out to the public, especially those who are not yet acquainted with the Catholic faith.
Such large-scale events are excellent opportunities to evangelise: the staff on duty greet visitors with a friendly smile, patiently explain, or quietly wait by their side to be ready to offer introductions. It allows the general public to feel the sincerity and warmth of the Catholic Church.
Catholics are restrained in terms of evangelising . We usually work quietly and devote ourselves to pastoral work. Activities for nurturing and spiritual growth are organised based on the needs of the different age groups of parishioners. Now that religious celebrations and gatherings are possible, it is the opportune time to seize evangelisation opportunities.
This can be done through participation in local or international cultural events where the Catholic faith’s core values and message of love can be demonstrated and widely disseminated. Additionally, there are various emerging social media platforms with their real-time, fast, and convenient features. If used properly, they hold great potential for spreading the gospel. SE
